Etymology Map
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Araba

3 stages from Ottoman Turkish to English.

Today it means a heavy covered cart or carriage of Turkey and the Caucasus

Where does the word "araba" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish araba, passing through Russian before entering English (1810s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
araba
Ottoman Turkish · medieval
"cart, carriage"
ox-drawn, often painted and gilded arabas carried Ottoman women on outings
2
Stage 2 of 3
arba
Russian · 1800s
"high-wheeled cart"
used for the high-wheeled carts of Crimea and the Caucasus
3
Stage 3 of 3
araba
English · 1810s
"a Turkish covered cart"
described by English travellers in the Ottoman Empire and Crimea
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Read the full story

Araba’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: araba meant “cart, carriage.” Ox-drawn, often painted and gilded arabas carried Ottoman women on outings. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Russian as arba. Used for the high-wheeled carts of Crimea and the Caucasus. It reached English by 1810s as araba. Described by English travellers in the Ottoman Empire and Crimea. Today, araba means a heavy covered cart or carriage of Turkey and the Caucasus.